The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-16
THE CHURCH OF GOD.
Scenes at a Camp Meeting When the
Deaf Heard and the Lame Walked.
From the ST. Louis Globe Democrat.


religioue revival has just now been opened
under the auspices of the disciples of The
Church of God" The moving spirit in this
work of snatching brands from the fires of
oerdition is Mrs. Maria B. Woodwork. a
woman whose intense enthusiasm. eloouent
power of speech, and miraculous cures of
the physically afflicted have occasioned
more excitement among the people of Ohio.
Indiana and ILLINOIS than has ever been
known. The testimony concerning her.
doings in Urbana is certainly very astopish-
ing. Her most extraordinary conversions
have been among those who attended the
revival to laugh and scott For example
she brought Lawyer Wright to his knees in
80 minutes after she began to work on his
conscience.
Mr.. Wright hadn't been inside church
for twenty -five years, and his motive for at
tending the revival was mainly to crafty
idle curiositv-perhaps to enjoy himself.
Mrs. Woodwork had been advised of his
coming, and when the rugged old counsellor
had seated himself she pointed her batteries
at him. She begged him as hard to confess
his sins as if she Were begging him for life.
and when the old man began to get restless
she redoubled her efforts. Her magnetic in
tiuence communicated itself mysteriously to
her entire audience, and in less time than it
takes to write it down every one of her
hearers was on his knees calling piteously
upon Heaven to incline the sinful LAWYERS
thoughts toward his souls salvation. After a
little the lawyer began to weep Real
tears coursed their pellucid way to the end
of his nose and trickled down the burrows in
his cheeks Then he sprang to his feet, be-
gan waving his arms over his head and
shouting with such vigor that his sonor
GUS voice rose clearly above the exultation
of the multitude. Such is the infection of
religious excitement that as has been said.
within thirty minutes of the lawyers ap-
pearance under the tent he was standing
upon the platform by the side of Mrs.
Woodworth, calling upon those within ear
shot" of his voice 10 cast aside the things of
the world and seek place in the kingdom.
After two or three meetings, and when
the people had been worked up to a degree
Of religious intensity, Mrs. Woodworth
began her mlnlStrationS among the sick, the
halt and the blind Eyewitness, resi-
dents of Urbana describe the scenes which
took place as the personifcation of frenzy.
When the excitement was at its whitest
heat Mrs. Woodwork seemed ubiquitous
One moment she would face her Shrieking
auditors from the platform, wringing her
hands, screaming to God for mercy in
voice that sounded high and shrill above the
wailings of her congregation; the next,
PROSTATE upon her face, tearing her hail.
and writhing in her imaginary embrace
OF some demon from below; then
flying about among the people,
encouraging, arguing, commanding them
to help her drive the fiend from
their midst, again upon the stage, stamping
her feet tragically upon the imaginary form
of the 'Old Boy" himself, and then, as the
great climax to her exhausting efforts,
shrieking ''victoryp at the full power of
her lungs. In the midst of pandemonium
thus engendered she would call upon the
afflicted to come forward and be healed,
and with each demonstration of her certain
ly inexplicable power the enthusiasm would
break out anew, and men and women, over
come by their overweight emotions,
would hurl themselves upon the ground,
bewailing their sins and invoking God to
spare them from the endless torments of
hell
Under such circumstances Farmer Grover,
of Warrensburg, was led to the altar. He
had been deaf as post for twenty-five
years, and suffered from pain in his back,
caused by fall from his horse that almost
bent him double. There was no mistaking
the physical agony in the old mans face
1t was the agony of grim despair. There
was a moment of hush, painful in it's sud
denness, as the revivalist stepped forward
with a quick, nervous movement and placed
her hand upon the sufferers head. Then
she rubbed his ears and cried out at the top
of her voice, Brother, you are deaf no
longer.n
The old man looked up, and strange
light shot from his aged eyes.
DO you not hear me p'shrieked the woman,
II tell you you are cured!"
Yes, hear you, ~ replied the old man,
"but you needn't yell at me that way. I
thought you were going to take the pain out
Of my back"
Mrs. Woodwork, her face aglow with
excitement, put her hands upon the old
mans spine. and calling upon the Lord to
help her, commanded him to stand erect.
Then followed moment of nerve-strain-
ing intensity as the old man raised himself
slowly to the perpendicular.
1.-THE pain has left YOUR shouted the
woman.
''As God lives it hast" cried the old man,
and he leaped into the air with an exultant
whoop that touched as with AN electric
spark the pent up enthusiasm of the specta-
tors No whirlwind in all its unbridled fury
could have surpassed the storm of voices
that followed this marvellous manifesto
ton of power. The old man was the live
lest of the lot, and sprang over benches,
slspping his withered hands.
Don't imagine did it." shouted the re-
vlvaliSt, when the excitement had in a
measure abated 1T was the Lords work,
and you must give ali the glory to him y
AT the next meeting Mrs Harris, OF Ur-
bana, was carried into the tent She had
been a helpless paralytic for twenty years.
They placed her emaciated form on a cot
before the rail, and the scenes already de-
scribed were repeated.
THE success of this crucial test should
convince you all" said the revivalist, that
Gods power is present among you"
She then approached the cot, and laid
her hands upon the body of the helpless suf-
ferer
do you believe in Coda" she asked.
II do" came family from the half-closed
lips.
And if God assumes your malady will
you devote your remaining years of life to
his holy service9"
II will, +" replied the sufferer.
Then, in Gods name, get up and waikiki
cried the revivalist, lifting up her hands and
falling upon her knees.
Amid breathless silence and what seemed
an eternity of suspense, the woman slowly
raised her head, and then put it back on the
pillow, as though doubtful of her power to
move it farther.
The Lord of Heaven commands you to
rise" cried the evangelist, her eyes dis
bended with nervous anticipation and beads
or Precipitation standing upon her forehead
Mrs. Harris raised her head again,
then putting out her hands caught hold OF
the sides OF the cot and raised herself to
sitting posture. She stared about her wild
~ for Il moment, and then, as though un-